2008 Rugby League World Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final was a rugby league
match played on 22 November 2008 at Suncorp Stadium
in Brisbane
. The match was the final game of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
and determined who would become world champions for the next five years. The match was played between New Zealand
and Australia
. In one of the biggest rugby league upsets of all time, New Zealand beat Australia by 34-20 after trailing by four points at half time.
Australia were undefeated at this world cup coming into the final.
including the last six consecutively. Australia had also not lost since 2006. New Zealand had won the Tri nations in 2005
but had lost to Australia eight times in a row since that victory.
The TAB offered odds of more than 20 to one on a Kiwi win by more than 13 points and New Zealand were paying $6.25 to win at many outlets.
At halftime Justin Morgan
said on the BBC "It has been a great display from both teams in the first half. The Kiwis have been a little unlucky but they are still in the game and I would like to see them put the ball in the air more in the second half and see if they can get some results."
Suncorp Stadium was sold out months in advance for the final. 1.2 million Australians watched the game live on television.
Ricky Stuart
, coach of the Australian team, was reported to be so incensed by his team's defeat in the final that he verbally attacked Geoff Carr
, the Chief Executive of Australian Rugby League, claiming that tournament organisers and match officials conspired to cause the Australian loss. The next morning he had a chance meeting with Ashley Klein
, who refereed the final, and Stuart Cummings
, the Rugby Football League
's director of match officials, at their hotel. He reportedly abused both officials in front of a number of witnesses, calling Klein a cheat, and behaved in an aggressive and physically intimidating manner. Stuart later apologised for his behaviour and resigned from his post.
The Kiwis were noimnated for team of the year in the Halberg Awards
but lost to the gold medal rowing pair of Caroline
and Georgina Evers-Swindell
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
match played on 22 November 2008 at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. The match was the final game of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
and determined who would become world champions for the next five years. The match was played between New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
and Australia
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
. In one of the biggest rugby league upsets of all time, New Zealand beat Australia by 34-20 after trailing by four points at half time.
Path to the Final
The two teams had played each other once already at this world cup in the opening ceremony where Australia ran out easy winners.Australia
- Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.
Opposing Team For Against Date Venue New Zealand New Zealand national rugby league teamThe New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...30 6 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney SydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...England England national rugby league teamThe England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
50 4 Telstra Dome Telstra DomeDocklands Stadium is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...PNG Papua New Guinea national rugby league teamThe Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
46 6 Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers StadiumThe Willows Sports Complex, currently known as Dairy Farmers Stadium due to sponsorship rights, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North...
, TownsvilleFiji Fiji national rugby league team-Competitions:Fiji have participated in:*Pacific Cup *World Cup *World Sevens *Superleague World Nines *Superleague Oceania Tournament *Pacific Rim Competition -Results:...
52 0 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney SydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Australia were undefeated at this world cup coming into the final.
New Zealand
- Scores and results list New Zealand's points tally first.
Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Australia Australian national rugby league teamThe Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...6 30 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney SydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...PNG Papua New Guinea national rugby league teamThe Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...48 6 Skilled Park, Gold Coast Gold Coast, QueenslandGold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...England England national rugby league teamThe England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...36 24 Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales Newcastle, New South WalesThe Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...England England national rugby league teamThe England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...32 22 Suncorp Stadium Suncorp StadiumLang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
, BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
Background
Australia went into the match as clear favorites. They had won 9 of the previous 12 Rugby League world cup'sRugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
including the last six consecutively. Australia had also not lost since 2006. New Zealand had won the Tri nations in 2005
2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
New Zealand 38 defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 (B. Tate 2, M.Gasnier 2, M. King, A. Johns...
but had lost to Australia eight times in a row since that victory.
The TAB offered odds of more than 20 to one on a Kiwi win by more than 13 points and New Zealand were paying $6.25 to win at many outlets.
Match Details
 Australia |
Position | New Zealand  |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Slater Billy Slater Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne... |
Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia is a New Zealand rugby league player, he currently plays for St Helens RLFC. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.-Early years:... |
|
| Joel Monaghan Joel Monaghan Joel Monaghan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves in Super League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played for the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters... |
Sam Perrett Sam Perrett Sam Perrett is a professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. A representative for New Zealand at international level. A versatile back who is capable of playing on the wing, in the centres and at fullback... |
|
| Greg Inglis Greg Inglis Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several... |
Simon Mannering Simon Mannering Simon Alexander Mannering is a New Zealand professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition... |
|
| Israel Folau Israel Folau Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most... |
Jerome Ropati Jerome Ropati Jerome Ropati is a professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League. Ropati was a member of the World Cup-winning New Zealand team in 2008... |
|
| David Williams David Williams (rugby league) David Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays on the wing and can also play in the centres... |
Manu Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei is a New Zealand rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. His position of choice is on the wing. He is the cousin of Japanese Rugby Union player Ruatangi Vatuvei. Vatuvei was a member of the New Zealand Kiwis squad that won the 2008... |
|
| Darren Lockyer Darren Lockyer Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011... (c) |
Benji Marshall Benji Marshall Benji Marshall is a professional rugby league footballer with the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League . A goal-kicking five-eighth, he is the current captain of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations tournaments... |
|
| Johnathan Thurston Johnathan Thurston Johnathan Dean Thurston is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys whom he co-captains... |
Nathan Fien | |
| Brent Kite Brent Kite Brent Kite is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing in the NRL with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. A Tonga and Australia international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative front-row forward, he has played club football for the St. George Illawarra... |
Nathan Cayless Nathan Cayless Nathan Frederick Cayless is a retired New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer, who was a long-time captain the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. His position of choice was prop forward. He is also a former captain of the New Zealand national team, whom he led to... (c) |
|
| Cameron Smith Cameron Smith Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League... |
Thomas Leuluai Thomas Leuluai Thomas Leuluai is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League. His position is at half-back... |
|
| Petero Civoniceva Petero Civoniceva Petero Civoniceva is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League... |
Adam Blair Adam Blair Adam Blair is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League until 1 November 2011, when he will join the Wests Tigers. A New Zealand international representative forward, Blair spent six seasons with the Storm, winning... |
|
| Anthony Laffranchi Anthony Laffranchi Anthony Laffranchi is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the European Super League. He primarily plays in the second-row. He previously played for the Wests Tigers... |
David Fa'alogo David Fa'alogo David Fa'alogo is a professional rugby league footballer with the Huddersfield Giants of Super League, formerly contracted with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League... |
|
| Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,... |
Bronson Harrison Bronson Harrison Bronson Harrison is a professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League. He primarily plays at lock. He previously played for the Wests Tigers... |
|
| Paul Gallen Paul Gallen Paul Gallen is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of the National Rugby League. Gallen's position of choice is lock and occasionally at Prop. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative... |
Jeremy Smith | |
| Karmichael Hunt Karmichael Hunt Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League .... |
Bench | Issac Luke Issac Luke Issac Luke is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League. His position of choice is either hooker or in the halves. His first-grade debut was for the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park in round 12... |
| Anthony Tupou Anthony Tupou Anthony Tupou is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of the National Rugby League... |
Bench | Greg Eastwood Greg Eastwood Greg Eastwood is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL. A New Zealand international representative lock or second row forward, he previously for the Brisbane Broncos, Bulldogs in the NRL and Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League... |
| Craig Fitzgibbon Craig Fitzgibbon Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and... |
Bench | Sam Rapira Sam Rapira Sam Rapira is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His usual position of choice is at prop-forward... |
| Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League... |
Bench | Sika Manu Sika Manu Sika Manu is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. He was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final... |
| Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series... |
Coach | Stephen Kearney Stephen Kearney Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team... |
- Pre match: The game started off with the traditionalKa Mate"Ka Mate" is a Māori haka composed by Te Rauparaha, war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe of the North Island of New Zealand.-The creation and composition of Ka Mate:...
hakaHakaHaka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
after the national anthem. During the haka the Australian team advanced towards the New Zealand team so that they were standing face to face. - 1st Minute: Australia kicked off to New Zealand who had the first set of six.
- 5th Minute: Benji Marshall almost opened the scoring for New Zealand after he ran on to a Nathan Fien grubber. However, he knocked the ball on upon further inspection and the video referee, Steve GansonSteve GansonSteve Ganson is a rugby league referee. He is the second professional referee from the town as Premier League referee Chris Foy also hails from St Helens.- First games :...
ruled no-try. - 11th Minute: New Zealand's good start to the game came to nothing when Billy Slater received the ball on the 40 metre line. He was able to cut through two defenders and run 30 metres before getting a ball away to Darren Lockyer who scored. Johnathan Thurston then missed the conversion. Australia 4-0 New Zealand
- 15th Minute: David Williams raced down the right hand touchline past Manu Vatuvei to score. Thurston kicked the conversion. Australia 10-0 New Zealand
- 20th Minute: Australia had the chance to effectively put the game out of reach when Darren Lockyer looked to have got on the end of a Cameron Smith grubber kick. Yet, when referee Ashley KleinAshley KleinAshley Klein is an Australian rugby league referee.Klein arrived in England as a youngster and refereed his first few games in the Rugby League Conference travelling up from London....
went to the video referee it was clear that Lockyer had not grounded the ball and the try was not awarded. - 24th Minute: Jeremy Smith went on a barnstorming run from ten metres out to score under the posts. Isaac Luke added the conversion and New Zealand were now back in the game. Australia 10-6 New Zealand
- 28th Minute: Benji Marshall looked to have lost the ball before Sika Manu was able to run away and put Jerome Ropati in to score. However, upon inspection from the video referee the ball was stripped out of Marshall's hands. Therefore the try stood and, when Luke added the conversion, New Zealand were in the lead for the first time in the match. Australia 10-12 New Zealand
- 35th Minute: Multiple passes between the Australian players and Lockyer eventually finds room to go over and score. The conversion was added and Australia were back in the lead. Australia 16-12 New Zealand
- 40th Minute: The halftime siren sounded. New Zealand had surprised many by keeping the score close but many would have believed that Australia would have ran away with the game in the second half.
At halftime Justin Morgan
Justin Morgan (rugby league)
Justin Morgan is a rugby league coach and former footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He is currently an assistant coach of the Canberra Raiders. His position of preference was at prop. He has also worked as a commentator.-Playing career:Morgan's career started with the Parramatta Eels...
said on the BBC "It has been a great display from both teams in the first half. The Kiwis have been a little unlucky but they are still in the game and I would like to see them put the ball in the air more in the second half and see if they can get some results."
- 41 Mins: New Zealand winger Manu Vatuvei is ruled to have put his shoulder on the corner flag as he was going into score a try. Therefore, the try was ruled out.
- 47 Mins: Lance Hohaia receives the ball after New Zealand received a penalty and stepped past Lockyer before scoring in the tackle. The conversion was added and New Zealand re-took the lead. Australia 16-18 New Zealand
- 58 Mins: Israel Folau is held up over the line after picking up a bouncing ball.
- 59 Mins: Lance Hohaia is bundled towards the New Zealand in-goal after Klein had already called held. Therefore New Zealand are awarded a penalty under their onw goal posts.
- 60 Mins: On the fourth play, Marshall kicked the ball, Slater gathered it in but threw the ball inexplicably in field where Marshall picked the ball up and scored out wide. The kick was unconverted. Australia 16-22 New Zealand
- 64 Mins: Australia hit back through a try form Greg Inglis in the corner, Thurston, however, could not add the conversion and New Zealand remained in the lead. Australia 20-22 New Zealand
- 70 Mins: Nathan Fein grubber kicked the ball through on the last tackle. Lance Hohaia, who was marginally on side ran through to try to catch the ball. The ball bounced awkwardly above the head of the Australian defender Joel Monaghan who could only react by putting out a swinging arm. The ball was then taken by Slater who was tackled in the in goal. After several looks from the video referee it was decided that Hohaia probably would have scored had he not been tackled so a penalty try was awarded. The conversion which would be taken from right under the posts was kicked and New Zealand had an 8 point lead. Australia 20-28 New Zealand
- 72 Mins With the Australians desperate to score Thurston make a line break but with an open line in front of him is ankle tapped by Jeremy Smith and Thurston knocked on. Time was now running out for Australia.
- 75 Mins Fein kicks for the corner but the ball came loose before Adam Blair eventually picked up and scored. After some looks at the video it was clear that it was a fair try. The conversion was added and New Zealand had effectively won the world cup.
- 80 Mins The siren for full time went and the New Zealand players started celebrating. Australia 20-34 New Zealand
Suncorp Stadium was sold out months in advance for the final. 1.2 million Australians watched the game live on television.
Aftermath
Hundreds of New Zealanders welcomed the team home at Auckland Airport.Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
, coach of the Australian team, was reported to be so incensed by his team's defeat in the final that he verbally attacked Geoff Carr
Geoff Carr
Geoff Carr is the CEO of the Australian Rugby League as well as the New South Wales Rugby League. He is also a retired rugby league footballer, having played first grade in the NSWRL premiership with the St. George Dragons during the 1970s and reached the 1971 grand final with them.Carr was...
, the Chief Executive of Australian Rugby League, claiming that tournament organisers and match officials conspired to cause the Australian loss. The next morning he had a chance meeting with Ashley Klein
Ashley Klein
Ashley Klein is an Australian rugby league referee.Klein arrived in England as a youngster and refereed his first few games in the Rugby League Conference travelling up from London....
, who refereed the final, and Stuart Cummings
Stuart Cummings (rugby league)
Stuart Cummings is the current Match Officials Director of the Rugby Football League.He qualified as a Rugby League referee in 1988 and was awarded senior referee status in 1991...
, the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
's director of match officials, at their hotel. He reportedly abused both officials in front of a number of witnesses, calling Klein a cheat, and behaved in an aggressive and physically intimidating manner. Stuart later apologised for his behaviour and resigned from his post.
The Kiwis were noimnated for team of the year in the Halberg Awards
Halberg awards
The Westpac Halberg awards recognise New Zealand's top sporting achievements.The annual award was started in 1949 by NZ Sportsman magazine founder Jack Fairburn...
but lost to the gold medal rowing pair of Caroline
Caroline Evers-Swindell
Caroline Meyer formerly known as Caroline Evers-Swindell is a former New Zealand rower. She is 179 cm tall and 80kg. She competed in the double sculls with her identical twin sister Georgina Earl...
and Georgina Evers-Swindell
Georgina Evers-Swindell
Georgina Earl, formerly known as Georgina Evers-Swindell is a former New Zealand rower. She competed in the double sculls with her identical twin sister Caroline Meyer, and is a double Olympic gold medalist, having won at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008...